Losing by 302 points was never so enjoyable

A score of 395 to 93. No matter what the sport is, if you’re on the wrong end of that, it’s never a good feeling. Well, almost never.

However, that’s what Swift Current’s Redneck Betties did to the Redcliff Foxy Rollers April 27 at the Credit Union iplex in roller derby action.Keep in mind, the Redneck Betties are an established, experienced squad who are operating like a well-oiled machine. This is the first year for the Foxy Rollers as they are still getting their skates underneath them.With that in mind, losing by 302 points is not a big deal. Kelly Lock, whose roller derby name is Skittles said the team’s Saturday evening bout was quite enjoyable in Swift Current. Lock, the president of the Redcliff Roller Derby Association, said there were definitely no regrets going to Swift Current.“A good time was had by all. The Redneck Betties are fabulous hosts,” said Lock with enthusiasm. “A lot of our team spent the night (in Swift Current) and our good time definitely carried well into the night. The game itself ... well, the score tells you how that went, but we have such a great group of girls on our team, no one was bothered by the score by the time we hit the dressing room. It was another learning experience for us and we were all just happy to have been able to play.“The atmosphere in Swift Current was by far one of the best I’ve experienced. We were definitely out numbered in the fan department, but everyone was so welcoming and the energy was so positive that we all felt right at home. Derby fans are always the best kind of fans.”The Foxy Rollers formed just a year ago. Some of their players were benchmarking their skills levels and satisfying the new regulations from the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) only a few months ago. As well, the group officially found a permanent home just this past March.In their loss, while it was fun to play, Law definitely sees where they can improve and as the cliché goes, it’s a learning experience. They have the basics down in practice now in skating, stopping turning, falling etc. Now, they need to expand the skill set a bit.“In the beginning, we focused on skating. Now, our focus needs to shift towards the game, learning plays and strategies,” explained Law. “The game isn’t necessarily that tough, if you learn to play it smart. That is something I see us needing to work on now.”The Foxy Rollers are looking at hosting a couple of low-key scrimmages while they focus on learning strategy for the remainder of the season. They break for the summer months, but will be back in full force in September when they will release their game schedule.